FDA plans to regulate e-cigarettes

Credit: MGN Online

FDA plans to regulate e-cigarettes

April 24, 2014Updated Apr 24, 2014 at 3:03 PM EDT

(FDA news release) As part of its implementation of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act signed by the President in 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday proposed a new rule that would extend the agency’s tobacco authority tocover additional tobacco products.

Products that would be “deemed” to be subject to FDA regulation are those that meet the statutory definition of a tobacco product, including currently unregulated marketed products, such as electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), cigars, pipe tobacco, nicotine gels, waterpipe (or hookah) tobacco, and dissolvables not already under the FDA’s authority. The FDA currently regulates cigarettes, cigarette tobacco, roll-your-own tobacco, and smokeless tobacco.

"This proposed rule is the latest step in our efforts to make the next generation tobacco-free," said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.

Consistent with currently regulated tobacco products, under the proposed rule, makers of newly deemed tobacco products would, among other requirements:

Register with the FDA and report product and ingredient listings;

Only market new tobacco products after FDA review;

Only make direct and implied claims of reduced risk if the FDA confirms that scientific evidence supports the claim and that marketing the product will benefit public health as a whole; and

Not distribute free samples.

In addition, under the proposed rule, the following provisions would apply to newly “deemed” tobacco products:

Minimum age and identification restrictions to prevent sales to underage youth;

Requirements to include health warnings; and

Prohibition of vending machine sales, unless in a facility that never admits youth.